Engage! Cleveland is excited to welcome three talented interns to our team this summer! Engage! Cleveland is proud to partner with Cuyahoga Community College and Eleven Plus to curate these internship programs with our team. The areas our interns will be focusing on are: Events, Development, and Marketing.

Beginning in June, our interns were onboarded and joined in our 11th Annual Young Professionals Week, where they were able to help us with set up, social media, greeting guests, and networking.

Get to know them each a little more below:

Welcome Samanta Flores!

1. Where are you going to school? I attend Cleveland State University.

2. What is your major/what are you studying? I am majoring in Operations & Supply Chain Management with a minor in Marketing.

3. When are you expected to graduate? My expected graduation date is May 2027.

4. What is your favorite hidden gem in Cleveland? My favorite hidden gem is a sushi restaurant, Sushi En Downtown.

5. What is your favorite restaurant in Cleveland? My favorite restaurant in Cleveland is Agave & Rye.

6. What is your favorite museum or public place to visit in Cleveland? My favorite museum is the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

7. Do you see yourself living and working in Cleveland post-graduation? I do see myself living and working in Cleveland, it is a genuine goal of mine.

8. If you could watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? If I could watch one movie for the rest of my life it would be Spider-Man: No Way Home, because it is a thrill to watch every time.

9. What are you most excited about working with Engage! Cleveland for the summer? I am most excited about being able to learn and collaborate with such an amazing group of people and contribute to the organization’s mission.

10. What is one thing, not associated with this internship, that you are looking forward to this summer? I am looking forward to watching the sunset at the beach and going on walks with my family.

Welcome Marie Hirz!

1. Where are you going to school? Miami University
2. What is your major/what are you studying? Undergrad – Marketing, Masters – Entrepreneurship and Emerging Technologies
3. When are you expected to graduate? May 2026
4. What is your favorite hidden gem in Cleveland? The waterfront
5. What is your favorite restaurant in Cleveland? Joe’s Deli & Restaurant
6. What is your favorite museum or public place to visit in Cleveland? Metro Parks
7. Do you see yourself living and working in Cleveland post graduation? Yes!
8. If you could watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? Mamma Mia
9. What are you most excited about working with Engage! Cleveland for the summer? Real world experience and learning more about marketing
10. What is one thing, not associated with this internship, that you are looking forward to this Summer? Visiting my family in California

Welcome Imani Young!

1. Where are you going to school? Tri-C Eastern Campus 
2. What is your major/what are you studying? Graphic Design. I also have a bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
3. When are you expected to graduate? Spring 2025
4. What is your favorite hidden gem in Cleveland? The Cleveland signs and their locations
5. What is your favorite restaurant in Cleveland? Taza, Lebanese Grill
6. What is your favorite museum or public place to visit in Cleveland? The Cleveland Museum of Art
7. Do you see yourself living and working in Cleveland post graduation? Honestly, no. I feel like I will be here for one more year potentially and looking to move to California at the moment. (But we are hoping this internship changes her mind!)
8. If you could watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? The Intern with Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway. It is my favorite movie of all time besides Inside Out and it highlights how a woman can create her own business of 280 people, running a business, while still being a cool working mom. I also like that Robert DeNiro’s character is like a fresh breath of air, so calm and collective. When she is always moving a million miles a minute and late to every meeting, he is patient, kind and doesn’t mind staying late at the office for his female boss. Also, he takes chivalry very seriously too with his girlfriend Fiona. I wish he was my grandpa honestly. Anne’s character reminds me of myself and Robert’s reminds me of that still small voice telling me to slow down. He reminds me of both of my best friends that remind me to slow down and be present in the moment.
9. What are you most excited about working with Engage! Cleveland for the summer? Assisting with the events for young professionals and mid-career development. Event Planning. And working on Promotional graphics in Canva. Being around others, getting a chance to network and work on my conversation skills.
10. What is one thing, not associated with this internship, that you are looking forward to this summer? Going to California and spending time in the sun.